Coronavirus Tips & Resources for Mentoring Programs

During times of crisis, young people can greatly benefit from social connection and engagement with caring adults and peers. In alignment with our goal to improve the quality of effectiveness of youth mentoring across the country, the National Mentoring Resource Center is committed to further supporting your efforts to serve youth during this extraordinary time. This webpage will serve as a national culmination of tools, programs, and training materials related to supporting various pathways of youth mentoring throughout the COVID-19 crisis. If you have questions about the resources listed, please email us via this This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Mentoring Tips

Please see these resources and links below to find more ways to keep youth engaged:

MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership:

Boys & Girls Clubs of America:

“To slow the spread of the coronavirus, those who can have been advised to stay home and practice social distancing. To help you through this, Boys & Girls Clubs of America would like to share with you our Youth Development Toolbox app. Used regularly by Club staff, YD Toolbox includes fun activities and learning opportunities for your children to engage in at home.

National Recreation and Park Association:

No Kid Hungry:

Sea Research Foundation:

Visit the STEM for Kids webpage for the STEM Mentoring program's favorite STEM collections, games, videos, virtual field trips, hands-on activities, e-books, podcasts, and more for kids in grades K-5. We will be sending out a weekly e-newsletter that spotlights some of these free and fun STEM links to help kids keep exploring and learning while schools are closed. To sign up to receive the e-newsletter, click here, and select “Fun and Educational Resources."

Search Institute:

The Building Developmental Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis checklist for 19 ways to connect with young people during this time. Search Institute’s research is demonstrating that when young people experience developmental relationships with parents, educators, youth program staff, and other adults their outcomes are better, their risk behaviors are lower, and they are more likely to be on the path to thrive in life. Staff in schools and youth programs do not need to and should not stop seeking to build developmental relationships with young people while they are at home during the nation’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Click to download Building Developmental Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis checklist for 19 ways to connect with young people during this time.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service:

This Web site is funded through a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this Web site including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided.